From Britain last week came the answer that in the case of Britain food
and clothing may be rationed for from three to five years. Reasons: 1)
unless the war lasts so long that the United Nations build up a huge
merchant fleet there will still be an acute shortage of shipping; 2)
the needs for the rehabilitation of Europe will be immense; 3) demand
will be so big as compared to supply that any sudden relaxation of
controls would mean skyrocketing inflation.